St George’s Anglican Parish is the oldest between Whanganui and Hawera, dating back to the late 1860s. The first Anglican church was built around 1871. It was moved to where the present Vicarage now stands when the current church was built in 1885. The old one was used for Sunday School for many years, until it was pulled down to make way for the present Vicarage in 1956.
The original Anglican vicarage was built at 186 Egmont Street in the late 1800s. The Vicar needed a horse to get around his parish from Waitotara to Manutahi and Woodville/Alton. The Vicarage section extended to Hadfield St, to about where Manchester St is now. This allowed paddocks for his horses and house cows. This home was sold by the church in 1956 and is still a private residence.
By the early 1880s moves were put forward for the building of a new Church as the population of Patea increased. In those days it was the custom for the parishioners to apply for their seats in the Church, at a yearly rental and at this time applications exceeded the seats available. The new St Georges Church was consecrated on 5th March 1885 by Bishop Hadfield. The cost was £750 and was built by Thompson and Ellerm. The architects for St George's were Messrs Atkins and Clere from Whanganui. Frederick de Jersey Clere also designed St Mary's of the Angels, Wellington. Registered as a Category 1 heritage building with the New Zealand Historic Places Trust. St George's received a $600,000 restoration in 2010, the work was undertaken by Ken Sandford Construction.
The original Anglican vicarage was built at 186 Egmont Street in the late 1800s. The Vicar needed a horse to get around his parish from Waitotara to Manutahi and Woodville/Alton. The Vicarage section extended to Hadfield St, to about where Manchester St is now. This allowed paddocks for his horses and house cows. This home was sold by the church in 1956 and is still a private residence.
By the early 1880s moves were put forward for the building of a new Church as the population of Patea increased. In those days it was the custom for the parishioners to apply for their seats in the Church, at a yearly rental and at this time applications exceeded the seats available. The new St Georges Church was consecrated on 5th March 1885 by Bishop Hadfield. The cost was £750 and was built by Thompson and Ellerm. The architects for St George's were Messrs Atkins and Clere from Whanganui. Frederick de Jersey Clere also designed St Mary's of the Angels, Wellington. Registered as a Category 1 heritage building with the New Zealand Historic Places Trust. St George's received a $600,000 restoration in 2010, the work was undertaken by Ken Sandford Construction.
St Lukes Presbyterian 'Knox' Church was built on Oxford Street eight years after the first St Georges Church. On Sunday 7 April 2024 a service was held at St Lukes Church to mark 150 years of the Presbyterian Church in Patea, followed by a service at Paririoa Pa. To follow is a brief history of the Presbyterian and Methodist Churches in Pātea:
The Presbyterians of Pātea had their earliest contact with an established Church from the Reverand David Hogg, who had settled in Whanganui in 1851 and moved widely through the countryside. A more permanent ministry was formed when Reverand Ian McCallum moved to Pātea in 1874 and made Pātea his home, securing a full time minister for the town. Services were held in the Pātea Town Hall on Oxford Street, near where the Presbyterian Church was later built. The church site was purchased in 1876 in the names of Messrs William Aitchison and Donald Coutts. A meeting was held and it was decided to build a church in 1878 on this site. Money was scarce but £70 was pledged and this Church was built at a cost of £860. A lot of this amount was raised, then a mortgage was taken to fund the remainder. The Church was built by Mr Daniel Mapower Warren & Mr Edwin Holtham and opened on 2 November 1879 by the Rev James Treadwell. The Vestry was added in 1880, and used on a regular basis for meetings. A car was purchased in 1930 for the Reverand for £160. An interest free loan from Mr Hunger was accepted and £9,15s had been raised from a concert at Manutahi. This car was replaced in 1938.
On 13 December 1904 plans were drawn for the first Manse by Mr William Aitcheson, next to the Church, with the construction cost close to £600. Mr Robert Gunn was asked to tender for the building of the Manse. His tender of £636 was accepted, including all outbuildings. Wall papering and painting was completed by Mr McComisky. Fifty four years later a new brick Manse was built and dedicated on 30 August 1958, with social gathering in the Hall. The old timber Manse was relocated to 18 Kent Street. In the 1960s the Bible Class was very strong, with membership of about 60 people. The Ladies Guild were very active in fundraising for the Church, especially towards the early buildings and other activities in the Church.
In January 1906 it was noted in the Church committee minutes that it be recommended that morning services be curtailed to one hour. The Pātea Presbyterian Church was named ‘Knox Church’ in 1911, but after the amalgamation with the Methodist Church in 1962, and the congregational reunion in 1978, the name changed to St Lukes by popular vote.
At the end of July in 1935 steps were taken to raise funds to build a Church Hall, and on 17 February 1936 the building committee sort to take tenders. On 17 March 1936 Messrs W Hutchinson Ltd tender was accepted for £480. In 1971 the church was moved a few metres toward Egmont Street to give more space between it and the manse. Mr Hunger donated the cost of the additional area of land required to reposition the church. The old small porch was removed and a new large foyer was added at a total cost of $7,200.
The Presbyterians of Pātea had their earliest contact with an established Church from the Reverand David Hogg, who had settled in Whanganui in 1851 and moved widely through the countryside. A more permanent ministry was formed when Reverand Ian McCallum moved to Pātea in 1874 and made Pātea his home, securing a full time minister for the town. Services were held in the Pātea Town Hall on Oxford Street, near where the Presbyterian Church was later built. The church site was purchased in 1876 in the names of Messrs William Aitchison and Donald Coutts. A meeting was held and it was decided to build a church in 1878 on this site. Money was scarce but £70 was pledged and this Church was built at a cost of £860. A lot of this amount was raised, then a mortgage was taken to fund the remainder. The Church was built by Mr Daniel Mapower Warren & Mr Edwin Holtham and opened on 2 November 1879 by the Rev James Treadwell. The Vestry was added in 1880, and used on a regular basis for meetings. A car was purchased in 1930 for the Reverand for £160. An interest free loan from Mr Hunger was accepted and £9,15s had been raised from a concert at Manutahi. This car was replaced in 1938.
On 13 December 1904 plans were drawn for the first Manse by Mr William Aitcheson, next to the Church, with the construction cost close to £600. Mr Robert Gunn was asked to tender for the building of the Manse. His tender of £636 was accepted, including all outbuildings. Wall papering and painting was completed by Mr McComisky. Fifty four years later a new brick Manse was built and dedicated on 30 August 1958, with social gathering in the Hall. The old timber Manse was relocated to 18 Kent Street. In the 1960s the Bible Class was very strong, with membership of about 60 people. The Ladies Guild were very active in fundraising for the Church, especially towards the early buildings and other activities in the Church.
In January 1906 it was noted in the Church committee minutes that it be recommended that morning services be curtailed to one hour. The Pātea Presbyterian Church was named ‘Knox Church’ in 1911, but after the amalgamation with the Methodist Church in 1962, and the congregational reunion in 1978, the name changed to St Lukes by popular vote.
At the end of July in 1935 steps were taken to raise funds to build a Church Hall, and on 17 February 1936 the building committee sort to take tenders. On 17 March 1936 Messrs W Hutchinson Ltd tender was accepted for £480. In 1971 the church was moved a few metres toward Egmont Street to give more space between it and the manse. Mr Hunger donated the cost of the additional area of land required to reposition the church. The old small porch was removed and a new large foyer was added at a total cost of $7,200.
Methodist Church. The Methodist Church evolved in a similar way, although it was much earlier in the timeline of the district. In 1844 William Hough was appointed to be the first European Missionary stationed at Pātea. Arthur Fryer writes in ‘Missionary Wives’ that the Mission Station was ‘in a raupo house at Raumano under the cliff face at the southern entrance to the Patea River’. But it is also thought they would have lived above the cliffs at Harere Hau Marae with local Māori. William lived on this exposed point with his wife Ann & 6 young children for almost 4 years, until their two youngest sons died of whooping cough on the same day on 27 September 1847
In January 1848 the unmarried, 27 year old, Thomas Skinner arrived in Pātea to replace William & Ann Hough. Very few Europeans were in the area in these early days. Thomas was apparently one of the Mission’s most fluent speakers of the Māori language and was very comfortable with the culture. By this stage the Pātea Mission Station had relocated to higher ground on the other side of the river, on what is now the site of Brian Headley’s house at 32 Norfolk Street. This would have been a very modest dwelling. It was noted by Rev Thomas G Hammond writing in later years that a good spring provided water for the Mission Station house. The spring was still flowing water in 2018, although not as strong as it would have been for Thomas Skinner.
Throughout the 1850’s and 60’s visiting ministers held services where ever possible until the first regular minister Rev Thomas Fifield Reeve was appointed in February 1874. He held services in the Billiard Room of the Albion Hotel. Church was taken to Pātea and Hāwera for a Stipend of £120 a year. The Presbyterian minister covered the same area for a similar stipend. Imagine preaching at Hāwera, Manutahi and Patea in one day and travelling between these places on horseback. How times have changed.
In 1875 a quarter acre section on Stafford Street was granted by the Government and the Methodist church was built. An adjoining section was purchased the following year. The church measured 30 × 30 feet and was built by Edwin Holtham & Daniel R M Warren for the contract price of £551.0. The church was originally known as the Wesleyan Chapel, and later became known as the Methodist Church. Four years later it was enlarged with provision made for forty additional seats at a cost of £66.10. The original builders, Holtham & Warren completed these additions. The church was reopened on 5 September 1880, by the Rev. W. Lee. A parsonage was built next door to the Church at 36 Stafford Street in 1881. Rev John A Luxford was the first to live in this two-storey home with his wife Emmie and their children.
Rev T G Hammond was in Pātea and the surrounding district from the mid 1870’s. In 1890 he was appointed Superintendent of the West Coast, and in 1917 he was appointed superintendent of Māori Mission. He had a wide knowledge of Māori history and customs and left a wealth of articles and books about this area.
After the amalgamation of the Methodist and Presbyterian churches in Patea in 1962, the church was used by the Wesleyan West Coast Māori Mission. The South Taranaki Māori Club (later known as The Pātea Māori Club) used the Church for practice when they came into existence in 1970. They were made up of most of the Pātea Methodist Māori Club members. The group was formed to practice for, and compete at, the 1971 first National Polynesian Festival at Rotorua. The original shingle roof remained on the building but is covered with a corrugated iron roof. On Sunday 14 July 1974 the Methodist Church held a Centennial service which was attended by 270-300 people. The service was shared by Reverand Len Willing and Reverand Napi Waaka OBE. In 2006 the Church was relocated to Manutahi Road, Lepperton where it is used as a museum.
In January 1848 the unmarried, 27 year old, Thomas Skinner arrived in Pātea to replace William & Ann Hough. Very few Europeans were in the area in these early days. Thomas was apparently one of the Mission’s most fluent speakers of the Māori language and was very comfortable with the culture. By this stage the Pātea Mission Station had relocated to higher ground on the other side of the river, on what is now the site of Brian Headley’s house at 32 Norfolk Street. This would have been a very modest dwelling. It was noted by Rev Thomas G Hammond writing in later years that a good spring provided water for the Mission Station house. The spring was still flowing water in 2018, although not as strong as it would have been for Thomas Skinner.
Throughout the 1850’s and 60’s visiting ministers held services where ever possible until the first regular minister Rev Thomas Fifield Reeve was appointed in February 1874. He held services in the Billiard Room of the Albion Hotel. Church was taken to Pātea and Hāwera for a Stipend of £120 a year. The Presbyterian minister covered the same area for a similar stipend. Imagine preaching at Hāwera, Manutahi and Patea in one day and travelling between these places on horseback. How times have changed.
In 1875 a quarter acre section on Stafford Street was granted by the Government and the Methodist church was built. An adjoining section was purchased the following year. The church measured 30 × 30 feet and was built by Edwin Holtham & Daniel R M Warren for the contract price of £551.0. The church was originally known as the Wesleyan Chapel, and later became known as the Methodist Church. Four years later it was enlarged with provision made for forty additional seats at a cost of £66.10. The original builders, Holtham & Warren completed these additions. The church was reopened on 5 September 1880, by the Rev. W. Lee. A parsonage was built next door to the Church at 36 Stafford Street in 1881. Rev John A Luxford was the first to live in this two-storey home with his wife Emmie and their children.
Rev T G Hammond was in Pātea and the surrounding district from the mid 1870’s. In 1890 he was appointed Superintendent of the West Coast, and in 1917 he was appointed superintendent of Māori Mission. He had a wide knowledge of Māori history and customs and left a wealth of articles and books about this area.
After the amalgamation of the Methodist and Presbyterian churches in Patea in 1962, the church was used by the Wesleyan West Coast Māori Mission. The South Taranaki Māori Club (later known as The Pātea Māori Club) used the Church for practice when they came into existence in 1970. They were made up of most of the Pātea Methodist Māori Club members. The group was formed to practice for, and compete at, the 1971 first National Polynesian Festival at Rotorua. The original shingle roof remained on the building but is covered with a corrugated iron roof. On Sunday 14 July 1974 the Methodist Church held a Centennial service which was attended by 270-300 people. The service was shared by Reverand Len Willing and Reverand Napi Waaka OBE. In 2006 the Church was relocated to Manutahi Road, Lepperton where it is used as a museum.
St Patrick's Church: This mid-century Linear Modernism concrete building was a much talked about piece of architecture when it appeared on the landscape. The dedication day on 21 December 1958 was a huge and long anticipated event. Archbishop Peter McKeefry did the official honours, assisted by Patea born Bishop Delargey, with our own parish priest Father John Rohan. Over a century earlier, before the township began, a French Catholic Priest walked into the area and meet with Māori that lived there.
This man was Father Jean Étienne Pezant, who had arrived in Akoroa from France in 1840. When the Marists moved to the diocese of Wellington in 1850, Father Pezant moved with them. In February 1852 he became the first parish priest in Whanganui, with oversight of the Taranaki area, and continued to do missionary work among the coastal tribes between the Rangitikei and Patea rivers, usually on foot. He was a fluent speaker of te reo, but the Pai Marire movement and land wars ended his mission work in this region, he moved to the South Island in 1868. From the 1850s until the early1880’s there was a band of French Priests that covered vast areas of remote country, working with Māori and the few white settlers there at that time. The names of these Priest’s from France that spent time in Patea are on the list at the end of this story, but the dates are fluid, as they came and went as the need arose. They would have performed baptisms, marriages and funerals in Patea and visited the sick and those in remote settlements of this sparsely populated land.
Father Maurice Tresallet was another French Priest that spent time in Patea. On his arrival in New Zealand he spoke only French, but soon became fluent in the Māori language. A story I found in the Wairapapa Daily Times, tells of a memoire of a pioneering lady that met Fr Tresallet as a young priest, when he stopped at her home in Turakina on his way north. She tried to tell him he could stay the night, but he couldn’t understand a word of English, and kept bowing and walking towards the door. It wasn’t until her husband came home and had the idea to ask the priest in Māori to stay the night. “The latter was overjoyed when he found there was a language which they both understood, and in it they conversed during a long evening”. In 1866 the Nelson Examiner tells of Father Tresallet attending to a man’s final rites in Nelson before he was executed. These pioneering Priests had an amazing aptitude for survival and fortitude in a country far away from their own.
In 1865 another French man; Father Louis Rolland took charge of the parish from White Cliffs to Kai Iwi. He was a military chaplain with the 18th Royal Irish Regiment as well as parish priest and ministered at the military encampment at Patea. He rode a chestnut coloured horse which he later sold to William Sergeant, a Grenadier of the 65th Regiment, and it was from then on known as ‘the Priest’
Fr Rolland was a plucky, unpretentious ‘man of the cloth’. This account of Fr Rolland written by Major Von Tempsky after the first battle at Te Ngutu o te Manu on 21 August 1868 gives an insight to his character. (Von Tempsky was killed at 3 weeks later on 7 Sept at the second battle) “On that grey and rainy morning in 1868” wrote Major Von Tempsky, " when the snoring waters of the Waingongoro were muttering of flood and fury to come, when our three hundred mustered silently in column on the parade ground, one man made his appearance, who at once drew all eyes upon him with silent wonder. His garb was most peculiar; scant but long skirts shrouded his nether garments, and an old waterproof sheet hung loosely over his shoulders. Weapons he had none, but there was a warlike cock in the position of his broad-brimmed old felt, and a self confidence in the attitude in which he leaned on his walking stick, that said ' Here stands a man without fear.' Who is it? Look underneath the flap of his clerical hat, and the frank, good humoured, brave countenance of Father Rolland will meet you. There he was lightly arrayed for the march of which no one could say what the ending would be. With a good humoured smile he answered my question as to 'what on earth brought him there’. He said that in holding evening service he had told his flock that he would accompany them on the morrow and there he was ! True, there stood, 'a good Shepherd." Through the rapid river, waist deep, along the weary forest track, across ominous looking clearings, where, at any moment a volley from an ambuscade could have swept our ranks, Father Rolland marched cheerfully and manfully, ever ready with a kind word, a playful sentence to any man who passed him. And when at last in the clearings of Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu the storm of bullets burst upon us he did not wait in the rear for men to be brought to him but- ran with the rest of us forward against the enemy's position. As soon as any man dropped he was by his side, he did not ask ' are you a Catholic?' or ' are you a Protestant?' but kneeling prayed for his ' last words.' Thrice noble conduct in a century of utilitarian tendencies. What Catholic on that expedition could have felt fear when he saw Father Rolland by his side, smiling at death a living personation, a fulfilment of many a text preached? what Catholic could have but felt proud of being a Catholic on that day on Father Rolland's account?"
Father Rolland had great admiration for the troops and was with them wherever there was likelihood of fighting. He knew no fear. More than once his hat was riddled with bullets, but he would continue his ministrations with the same determination. He is recorded on the Normanby Land Wars Memorial. His contemporaries often tried to get that old bullet riddled hat, contending that the Church of Taranaki had a right to it. “I am no saint” the old priest would reply “and I intend to leave no relics behind me”. In 1869 Fr Rolland bought a farm at Koru Road, south of New Plymouth, where he founded a Catholic boys’ school and a monastery for widower and single soldiers. Unfortunately, his transfer to Reefton 1872 meant the closure of the school. The monastery was also abandoned. However, several single men continued to live there for some years, it was then bought by the Mace family and later burnt down. When Fr Rolland died in Reefton at the age of 68 in 1903, he was given a full Military funeral.
Father Jean Lampila was known to Māori he lived amongst as Hone Rapira. Before he came to New Zealand in 1841, he was a Sergeant in the French army. He was based up the Whanganui River in the 1850’s helping local Māori build Flour Mills. On 4 May 1864 he was ‘in the thick of battle’ at the Battle of Moutoa Island. It is reported in the Wanganui Chronicle the following day that his companion on the battlefield; Brother Fredleau was killed that day. Brother Fredleau was a carpenter from France and had been building Flour Mills with the Priest’s and Māori. In the 1870’s Fr Lampila was in charge of New Plymouth parish and came to Patea when needed. He returned to France in 1888 and died there 9 years later.
The first Catholic Church in Patea was built in about 1870 due to the efforts of Father Rolland and the efficacious Catholic businessman Mr Felix McGuire. Felix had been in the military and then set up a General Store in Patea in the late 1860’s. His store burnt down in 1877, he moved to Hawera soon after and set up a Brewery on the corner of High and Cameron Streets and was elected Mayor of Hawera in 1881. Felix McGuire later spent 11 years in Parliament as MP for Egmont, while living in Okaiawa.
Felix McGuire was a firm believer in setting up infrastructure to give the town a sense of place, so a Catholic Chapel for the new township of Patea was essential. The Church is referred to as the 'Carlyle Catholic Chapel'. The Anglican’s built their first St Georges Church around the same time in 1871. The Methodist and Presbyterian Churches were built a few years later. In 1844 a Wesleyan mission house was established near Wai o turi Marae, it was abandoned in 1848. In June 1875 a fierce west coast storm caused major damage to the Catholic Chapel, blowing it off its foundations. It was repaired in time for the visit of Bishop Francis Redwood in September 1875.
The Patea Mail 22 Sept 1875 tells of the plans for this memorial trip; ‘His Lordship Bishop Redwood has intimated his intention visit Patea on Friday next, and at a meeting of the Catholic residents of Carlyle, held on Monday evening last, to make arrangements for His Lordship’s reception, the following programme was arranged, subject to the Bishop's approval : —The reception committee will leave Carlyle at 11am. on Friday next, for Whenuakura, where His Lordship will be met, and a buggy (which has been placed at the disposal of the Committee by Mr McGuire) will be in waiting, in which the Bishop will be driven into Patea, accompanied by as many members the Church who can make it convenient to ride out. The buggy will halt opposite Mr McGuire’s cottage, and his Lordship will descend and partake of refreshment. An address of welcome will be presented to the Bishop in the Church at 7 p.m. It has been arranged that a number of young girls, dressed in white, with white veils, will form a line on each side of the aisle, under the charge of Mesdames Lyttelton and Wheelan, and as His Lordship enters the Church the children will sing the hymn of the Good Shepherd, At its conclusion, the address of welcome will be presented, when His Lordship’s reply will follow. After the ceremony being concluded, the Bishop will be driven out to Mr Burke’s residence at Manutahi, where it is understood His Lordship will reside during his stay in this district.’ A few days later the report of his visit was documented in the Patea Mail and it all went to plan as intended.
Father Eugene Pertuis was parish priest of the region in early 1875. The Patea Mail reports in May 1877 : “A little way above it, on a hill, are three places of worship, alongside each other. There is one for the Church of England, of which the Rev. Mr Dasent is the pastor; the Wesleyan Church, of which Rev. Mr Law is the minister; and the Roman Catholic Chapel in which the Rev. Father Pertuis celebrates mass. It is said that there is but one road to Heaven, and the Carlyle people follow this precept with regard to their churches, for all go in the same direction, and the separation only takes place on arriving at the doors of their respective religious edifices, to meet again when the devotions are over.”
Father Pertuis was very musical with a good singing voice, he liked to accompany the singing at Benediction by playing his Concertina. He also had a bent for mending timepieces of any description and also door locks. At that time, of course, there were few watchmakers or locksmiths in Taranaki, so his services even in this regard were often sought. He died in 1906 and is buried at Kaori Cemetery. Fr John Ryan looked after the parish for a few months from 1879. On the 4 May 1879 he made the papers when, from the pulpit at Patea, he denounced and defamed Mr Charles Quin of misappropriating Church funds. This went to court but was eventually thrown out.
Rev Dean Michael Grogan from Dungamon in Ireland was appointed to the charge of the district in 1880, which then included the whole of the coast from Wanganui to New Plymouth. He remained here for four years, and during that time he paid off £760 of debt, built two churches and a presbytery, enlarged the church at Hawera, and secured land in six different districts for future church purposes. 4 May 1880 The Patea Mail tells of the tribulations of a country Priest: ‘An Accident befell Father Grogan while driving a horse and buggy on Sunday morning, to attend service at the Carlyle Catholic Church. Descending the hill towards the Patea bridge on the Whenuakura side, the horse appears to have felt the trap pressing on behind, and kicking out it soon knocked its shoes through the front apron, injuring Father Grogan’s leg with the furious backward fling. The horse tore the shafts off the buggy, and was dashing away with them, but Father Grogan leapt from the machine at the same moment, and gallantly seizing the animal’s head brought him to a stand. The Father was not seriously the worse for his narrow escape, but the church congregation were knelt waiting more than an hour for his delayed appearance, before service could begin. It is the same neat buggy that was made by Messrs Williams for Father Ryan, and it can be repaired.
It was during Fr Grogan’s time that the second Catholic Church in Patea was built, replacing the old Chapel. The new building was built along traditional Gothic styles, 50ft long by 30ft wide. It had a choir loft above the front entrance which looked down on the altar. A small Presbytery was also built next door, where the Nuns Convent was later built in 1969. The Church was named St Patrick’s, and was opened by Bishop Redwood on December 18, 1881. This was built at a cost of £1400 and the adjoining Presbytery cost £250. It was designed by Wellington architect, Thomas Turnbull and built by James O'Dea. Fr Grogan went to Napier Parish in 1884, where he died in 1912 at the age of 69. Fr A D Mulvihill replaced Fr Grogan, he stayed for 7 years before he was transferred to Australia..
All the priests that administered in Patea up until this time did not live here. For almost 40 years they were in charge of a huge catchment, often from New Plymouth to Whanganui. The records of Baptism’s, Marriages and Funerals during that time have been lost with the passing of time. Records in the possession of St Patricks Parish now, begin in 1891. The earliest Catholic Burial recorded in the Sexton’s Ledger in the Patea Cemetery is of a baby; Mary Gahan, who died at 2 weeks old on 13 of May 1876. She is one of the 8 graves on top of the hill. She was the only child of a Mary and James Gahan. Four month old David George Bourke is also on the hill, he’s the 2nd Catholic burial, he died at 4 months old on 1 January 1878. The first Catholic burial in the lower area of the cemetery is 56 year old Michael Foley on 5 Sept 1878, Fr Pertuis was the officiating priest that day. There would have Catholic burials before then, but a special area was not set aside until then.
The first permanent Priest that lived in Patea was Father Thomas McKenna in 1891.In 1892 Fr McKenna had two fine rooms added onto the Presbytery with a beautiful bay window added to the new Parlour. He also had the sandhills removed from behind the Church and a lawn laid. Fr McKenna was born in Kilkenny Ireland, and arrived in NZ soon after his brother Fr John McKenna in 1888 at the age of 24. After a few years in Masterton he went to Patea to set it up as an independent parish in 1891 When Pahiatua was established as a separate parish in 1894, Thomas returned as its first priest. John and Thomas McKenna were able administrators and outstanding pastoral priests who together laid the foundation of the Catholic church in Wairarapa. Both John and Thomas McKenna were famous throughout Wairarapa as enthusiastic sportsmen and able athletes. They represented Wairarapa at rugby, playing under their mother's maiden name; Wallace. Fr Thomas was made a Dean after his time in Patea. He is buried at Paihitua
During the time of Fr William McGrath, the Sisters of St Josephs arrived in Patea and the St Joseph Convent School was established on Suffolk St in 1904 with a roll of 72 children. The first Nuns were Sister’s Catherine, Angela, Margaret Mary, Elizabeth and Sister Peter. A house was built for them next to the School, it was demolished in 1970 when the new Nun’s residence was built.
Many students have passed through its doors since. Two students that have gone on to the ‘worlds stage’ are ‘Soprano’ Lynne Cantlon and Reginald Delargey who became Cardinal of the NZ Catholic Church in 1976. His father Archibald was Manager of the BNZ Bank in Patea in the 1920’s and his mother Kathleen sadly died at the age of 45 and is buried in the Patea Cemetery. The family moved away not long after, but her husband Archibald was buried beside her when he died 30 years later. Cardinal Delargey died in Auckland on 29 January 1979. After an impressive funeral, which was televised live, he was buried in the priests’ plot in Karori cemetery, Wellington.
Fundraising Bazaars and Tug-a-War competitions were all part of the activities to raise money for the new Catholic Presbytery under the guidance of Father Duffy. Kakaramea and Alton were the Tug-a-War teams to bet. In 1919 the new Presbytery was built on a new site on the Surrey St side of the Church (in 1983 it was sold to David and Linda Towers). It is not known what happened to the old Presbytery, it may have remained standing for a few more years. Sadly Father Duffy didn’t get to enjoy his new home for long, as he died at the end of 1920 at the age of 44. His OBITUARY in the Patea Mail on 27 November 1920 tells of the high regard he was held in Patea: “Very general regret will be felt at the news of the death at Patea of Father Duffy who as the parish priest for fourteen years had become very sincerely liked and respected in Patea and district. He succeeded another popular priest, the late Father McGrath. He was born in County Longford, Ireland, forty-four years ago, and was ordained to the priesthood in 1902, spending the first 'few years of his clerical ministry at Pahiatua and Carterton. He had been in indifferent health for several years, and a short time ago it was found that an operation was necessary. Despite all that medical skill and the ministration of kind friends could do at home and in the Patea Hospital, he gradually failed and passed quietly away early on Friday morning”. He is buried in the Patea Cemetery next to Fr McGrath.
Fr Daniel McLaughlin was a Curate (assistant Priest) for Fr Duffy during WWI. He was born in Whenuakura in 1891, the son of Hugh and Mary McLaughlin and baptized at St Patrick Church Patea. The family moved to a farm at Rawhitiroa a few years later. During his time as a priest in Patea Father McLaughlin’s brother Lance Corporal John Joseph McLaughlin was killed in action in France. Fr McLaughlin went on to become Parish Priest for Marton and then Stratford, where he died and is buried in 1935
The Hibernian Society was formed in Patea under the guidance of Fr Michael Broughton in September 1934. The first 11 members were initiated by the Provincial President; Bernard McCarthy (Lawyer) Hawera. It was a fellowship group and most Parish’s had a Hibernian Society, they would meet with other groups on a regular basis. Its purpose was to act as a Sick and Funeral Benefit, to a Life and Fire Insurance Soc, as well as a very successful Credit Union and a Permanent Building Society. Mary Boyle was Secretary/Treasurer from 1942 until she died in 2001.
Fr John Rohan was the longest serving Parish Priest – 36 years. He arrived in Patea in 1936, at the age of 36. Three years before WWII was declared and Patea was a boom town with a very strong Catholic congregation. A couple of years after he arrived my Great Aunt Suzie Dwyer started work as his Housekeeper. She was meant to stay only a few weeks until he found someone permanent, but almost 30 years later she was still there when Fr Rohan retired to Taupo in 1971. Sadly he died a year later at the age of 73. He was returned to his beloved parish of Patea and buried at the Patea Cemetery. Fr Rohan was a well-respected man; always seen at community events of all descriptions. Sunday afternoons were often spent playing euchre at the Crawford home at Whenuakura. He was a regular at Circus’s and sporting events at Patea. Boxing Day Athletics at the Domain he could be found holding the Finish-Line Ribbon with Gordon Scown. They would walk into the middle of the track after each race, still holding the ribbon, to discuss who the place-getters should be.
It was during Fr Rohan’s time in Patea that the present Church was built. The last couple to get married in the old wooden St Patrick’s Church were Johnny and Noeline Kerrisk on 16 February 1957. The church was then rolled to one side of the section and continued to be used for Sunday services and more weddings, funerals etc until the new one was finished. The old church was intended to be used as a Hall, but a huge storm in May 1958 caused major structural damage and it was demolished when the new Church was opened. The first couple to be married in the new Church were Hendrik and Rona Schrader on 7 Feb 1959
The statue of St Patrick that was in an alcove high up at the front of the old wooden Church was still sitting under the Pohutakawa’s between the Church and the Presbytery in the 1980’s. It had been set on a concrete plinth that some well-meaning parishioners had poured into a mould, then sat the statue in it. When they checked on it after having a cup of tea, the statue had sunken into the concrete and was set in it up to its knees. It was a slightly sad end for a statue that watched over the town for 77 years.
Vin Bloor won the tender to build the existing church and began the task in 1957. Vin was a WWII returned soldier and built among other things, the Matapu War Memorial Hall. He was to run into financial strife during the huge project of the new Catholic Church. He gave up building on a full-time basis at the completion of St Patrick’s Church and bought the Hurleyville Store and the small dairy farm attached to it, with his wife Mavis. But he did do an amazing job of the light and airy concrete constructed Church. It is approximately 490m² in size and the cost is thought to be £30,000. It was opened dept free, to the credit of Fr Rohan, who spent years canvasing the district for pledges from parishioners
On Sunday 21 December 1958, the newly built Church was officially opened to great fanfare. Pews which had been bought by various Catholic families were packed tight with the congregation in their Sunday best. Aunty Suzie had given the job of keeping the copper stoked and the water boiling in the washhouse behind the Presbytery, to her nephews, the Dwyer boys; Danny, Keiran, Kevin and Brian. A hot cup of tea for everyone was vital. There were also cigars were lined up for the Priests and Bishops on a table nearby….this temptation proved too much for these curious youngsters, and they each lit a cigar to pass the time keeping the water boiling on that hot summers day.
It’s been almost 170 years since Father Pezant first walked into Patea as the first Catholic Priest. The town has seen many changes, people have come and gone, leaving their mark in many different ways. The last resident Catholic Priest left in 2013. The Parish is now administered by visiting Priests and certain parishioners oversee and control funerals, baptisms etc when required. The circle of change has come a full circle…like so often happens in life and the stories in between are as always…fascinating.
The adjoining convent was opened by Bishop O N Sneddon in 1970. Built at an approximate cost of $36,000 by Arthur Brown Construction of Hawera.
There have been several sizable bequests left Patea and Waverley Church. The Micheal Keating estate in Kohi, which was left to the Waverley Church, The John Dwyer Estate that was left in 1938 by John and Anne Dwyer. It was a herd of cows and a lease agreement for the ???acre farm. The Church bought the farm in ?? It is now managed by David Werder and Keiran Dwyer. In the past it was managed by Jerry Hurley from Opaku and ?. Then Frank Parsons & ?. Then Dan Dwyer and Eric Werder.
On 18 November 1973, while making arrangements by telephone at the presbytery for the accommodation of a convalescent priest whom he had just visited, McKeefry died suddenly, a cigarette smouldering between his fingers. He was buried in Karori cemetery after a funeral attended by numerous civic and ecclesiastical dignitaries and amidst copious tributes from within and beyond his own church. He was succeeded by Reginald Delargey.
1852 Rev Jean Étienne Pezant (travelled between NP and Whanganui)
1863 Rev Maurice Tressalet
1865 Father John Baptiste Louis Rolland (Military Chaplin travelled between NP and Patea, born in Verdun. France 1834)
1875 Father Eugene Pertuis (arrived in NP in 1863 from France, travelled between NP and Whanganui) b.1830 d.1906
1879 Rev Ryan
1880-1884 Father Michael Grogan, 1843-1912went to Napier in 1884, 2nd Patea church built in his time
1884-1891 Rev A D Mulvihill, went to Australia
1891-1894 Dean Thomas McKenna (first Priest to be permanently stationed at Patea) b.18563 d.1923
1894-1895 Rev Patrick Joseph Power died 1927, buried in Hawera
1895-1899 Rev Golden
1899-1906 Father William McGrath died 1906 in Patea, buried Patea
1901-1902 Father W Johnson (curate)
1906-1920 Father Edward Duffy died 1920 in Patea, buried in Patea -
1916-1918 Father Daniel McLaughlin (curate) born & baptized (1891) at Patea
1923-1925 Father P Masterton (curate)
1920-1922 Father Thomas Cahill
1922-1927 Father Edward Phelan (went to Ireland for a year in 1927
1927-1928 Father Edward Lynch
1928-1930 Father Nicholas Moore (went to Masterton)
1929-1932 Father C Harnett
1930-1933 Father Richard Hegarty (went to Feilding)
1932-1934 Father John Joseph Garrahy
1934-1936 Father Michael Broughton (went to Feilding)
1936-1971 Father John Rohan died & buried at Patea, Suzie Dwyer was his housekeeper
1971-1975 Father James McNeill, went to Marton, his housekeeper was Peg.
1975-1981 Father John McLaughlin, came from the south island
1981-1989 Father John Dykes
1990-1997 Father P J Cumiskey
1997-2004 Father Steve Hancey (died 2017 in Whanganui)
2004-2009 Father Anthony Ford (based at St Joseph Hawera, died 2009)
2009-2013 Father Bill Casey (left April 2013 for NP,Died 6/6/2019 last resident Priest for Patea
This man was Father Jean Étienne Pezant, who had arrived in Akoroa from France in 1840. When the Marists moved to the diocese of Wellington in 1850, Father Pezant moved with them. In February 1852 he became the first parish priest in Whanganui, with oversight of the Taranaki area, and continued to do missionary work among the coastal tribes between the Rangitikei and Patea rivers, usually on foot. He was a fluent speaker of te reo, but the Pai Marire movement and land wars ended his mission work in this region, he moved to the South Island in 1868. From the 1850s until the early1880’s there was a band of French Priests that covered vast areas of remote country, working with Māori and the few white settlers there at that time. The names of these Priest’s from France that spent time in Patea are on the list at the end of this story, but the dates are fluid, as they came and went as the need arose. They would have performed baptisms, marriages and funerals in Patea and visited the sick and those in remote settlements of this sparsely populated land.
Father Maurice Tresallet was another French Priest that spent time in Patea. On his arrival in New Zealand he spoke only French, but soon became fluent in the Māori language. A story I found in the Wairapapa Daily Times, tells of a memoire of a pioneering lady that met Fr Tresallet as a young priest, when he stopped at her home in Turakina on his way north. She tried to tell him he could stay the night, but he couldn’t understand a word of English, and kept bowing and walking towards the door. It wasn’t until her husband came home and had the idea to ask the priest in Māori to stay the night. “The latter was overjoyed when he found there was a language which they both understood, and in it they conversed during a long evening”. In 1866 the Nelson Examiner tells of Father Tresallet attending to a man’s final rites in Nelson before he was executed. These pioneering Priests had an amazing aptitude for survival and fortitude in a country far away from their own.
In 1865 another French man; Father Louis Rolland took charge of the parish from White Cliffs to Kai Iwi. He was a military chaplain with the 18th Royal Irish Regiment as well as parish priest and ministered at the military encampment at Patea. He rode a chestnut coloured horse which he later sold to William Sergeant, a Grenadier of the 65th Regiment, and it was from then on known as ‘the Priest’
Fr Rolland was a plucky, unpretentious ‘man of the cloth’. This account of Fr Rolland written by Major Von Tempsky after the first battle at Te Ngutu o te Manu on 21 August 1868 gives an insight to his character. (Von Tempsky was killed at 3 weeks later on 7 Sept at the second battle) “On that grey and rainy morning in 1868” wrote Major Von Tempsky, " when the snoring waters of the Waingongoro were muttering of flood and fury to come, when our three hundred mustered silently in column on the parade ground, one man made his appearance, who at once drew all eyes upon him with silent wonder. His garb was most peculiar; scant but long skirts shrouded his nether garments, and an old waterproof sheet hung loosely over his shoulders. Weapons he had none, but there was a warlike cock in the position of his broad-brimmed old felt, and a self confidence in the attitude in which he leaned on his walking stick, that said ' Here stands a man without fear.' Who is it? Look underneath the flap of his clerical hat, and the frank, good humoured, brave countenance of Father Rolland will meet you. There he was lightly arrayed for the march of which no one could say what the ending would be. With a good humoured smile he answered my question as to 'what on earth brought him there’. He said that in holding evening service he had told his flock that he would accompany them on the morrow and there he was ! True, there stood, 'a good Shepherd." Through the rapid river, waist deep, along the weary forest track, across ominous looking clearings, where, at any moment a volley from an ambuscade could have swept our ranks, Father Rolland marched cheerfully and manfully, ever ready with a kind word, a playful sentence to any man who passed him. And when at last in the clearings of Te Ngutu-o-te-Manu the storm of bullets burst upon us he did not wait in the rear for men to be brought to him but- ran with the rest of us forward against the enemy's position. As soon as any man dropped he was by his side, he did not ask ' are you a Catholic?' or ' are you a Protestant?' but kneeling prayed for his ' last words.' Thrice noble conduct in a century of utilitarian tendencies. What Catholic on that expedition could have felt fear when he saw Father Rolland by his side, smiling at death a living personation, a fulfilment of many a text preached? what Catholic could have but felt proud of being a Catholic on that day on Father Rolland's account?"
Father Rolland had great admiration for the troops and was with them wherever there was likelihood of fighting. He knew no fear. More than once his hat was riddled with bullets, but he would continue his ministrations with the same determination. He is recorded on the Normanby Land Wars Memorial. His contemporaries often tried to get that old bullet riddled hat, contending that the Church of Taranaki had a right to it. “I am no saint” the old priest would reply “and I intend to leave no relics behind me”. In 1869 Fr Rolland bought a farm at Koru Road, south of New Plymouth, where he founded a Catholic boys’ school and a monastery for widower and single soldiers. Unfortunately, his transfer to Reefton 1872 meant the closure of the school. The monastery was also abandoned. However, several single men continued to live there for some years, it was then bought by the Mace family and later burnt down. When Fr Rolland died in Reefton at the age of 68 in 1903, he was given a full Military funeral.
Father Jean Lampila was known to Māori he lived amongst as Hone Rapira. Before he came to New Zealand in 1841, he was a Sergeant in the French army. He was based up the Whanganui River in the 1850’s helping local Māori build Flour Mills. On 4 May 1864 he was ‘in the thick of battle’ at the Battle of Moutoa Island. It is reported in the Wanganui Chronicle the following day that his companion on the battlefield; Brother Fredleau was killed that day. Brother Fredleau was a carpenter from France and had been building Flour Mills with the Priest’s and Māori. In the 1870’s Fr Lampila was in charge of New Plymouth parish and came to Patea when needed. He returned to France in 1888 and died there 9 years later.
The first Catholic Church in Patea was built in about 1870 due to the efforts of Father Rolland and the efficacious Catholic businessman Mr Felix McGuire. Felix had been in the military and then set up a General Store in Patea in the late 1860’s. His store burnt down in 1877, he moved to Hawera soon after and set up a Brewery on the corner of High and Cameron Streets and was elected Mayor of Hawera in 1881. Felix McGuire later spent 11 years in Parliament as MP for Egmont, while living in Okaiawa.
Felix McGuire was a firm believer in setting up infrastructure to give the town a sense of place, so a Catholic Chapel for the new township of Patea was essential. The Church is referred to as the 'Carlyle Catholic Chapel'. The Anglican’s built their first St Georges Church around the same time in 1871. The Methodist and Presbyterian Churches were built a few years later. In 1844 a Wesleyan mission house was established near Wai o turi Marae, it was abandoned in 1848. In June 1875 a fierce west coast storm caused major damage to the Catholic Chapel, blowing it off its foundations. It was repaired in time for the visit of Bishop Francis Redwood in September 1875.
The Patea Mail 22 Sept 1875 tells of the plans for this memorial trip; ‘His Lordship Bishop Redwood has intimated his intention visit Patea on Friday next, and at a meeting of the Catholic residents of Carlyle, held on Monday evening last, to make arrangements for His Lordship’s reception, the following programme was arranged, subject to the Bishop's approval : —The reception committee will leave Carlyle at 11am. on Friday next, for Whenuakura, where His Lordship will be met, and a buggy (which has been placed at the disposal of the Committee by Mr McGuire) will be in waiting, in which the Bishop will be driven into Patea, accompanied by as many members the Church who can make it convenient to ride out. The buggy will halt opposite Mr McGuire’s cottage, and his Lordship will descend and partake of refreshment. An address of welcome will be presented to the Bishop in the Church at 7 p.m. It has been arranged that a number of young girls, dressed in white, with white veils, will form a line on each side of the aisle, under the charge of Mesdames Lyttelton and Wheelan, and as His Lordship enters the Church the children will sing the hymn of the Good Shepherd, At its conclusion, the address of welcome will be presented, when His Lordship’s reply will follow. After the ceremony being concluded, the Bishop will be driven out to Mr Burke’s residence at Manutahi, where it is understood His Lordship will reside during his stay in this district.’ A few days later the report of his visit was documented in the Patea Mail and it all went to plan as intended.
Father Eugene Pertuis was parish priest of the region in early 1875. The Patea Mail reports in May 1877 : “A little way above it, on a hill, are three places of worship, alongside each other. There is one for the Church of England, of which the Rev. Mr Dasent is the pastor; the Wesleyan Church, of which Rev. Mr Law is the minister; and the Roman Catholic Chapel in which the Rev. Father Pertuis celebrates mass. It is said that there is but one road to Heaven, and the Carlyle people follow this precept with regard to their churches, for all go in the same direction, and the separation only takes place on arriving at the doors of their respective religious edifices, to meet again when the devotions are over.”
Father Pertuis was very musical with a good singing voice, he liked to accompany the singing at Benediction by playing his Concertina. He also had a bent for mending timepieces of any description and also door locks. At that time, of course, there were few watchmakers or locksmiths in Taranaki, so his services even in this regard were often sought. He died in 1906 and is buried at Kaori Cemetery. Fr John Ryan looked after the parish for a few months from 1879. On the 4 May 1879 he made the papers when, from the pulpit at Patea, he denounced and defamed Mr Charles Quin of misappropriating Church funds. This went to court but was eventually thrown out.
Rev Dean Michael Grogan from Dungamon in Ireland was appointed to the charge of the district in 1880, which then included the whole of the coast from Wanganui to New Plymouth. He remained here for four years, and during that time he paid off £760 of debt, built two churches and a presbytery, enlarged the church at Hawera, and secured land in six different districts for future church purposes. 4 May 1880 The Patea Mail tells of the tribulations of a country Priest: ‘An Accident befell Father Grogan while driving a horse and buggy on Sunday morning, to attend service at the Carlyle Catholic Church. Descending the hill towards the Patea bridge on the Whenuakura side, the horse appears to have felt the trap pressing on behind, and kicking out it soon knocked its shoes through the front apron, injuring Father Grogan’s leg with the furious backward fling. The horse tore the shafts off the buggy, and was dashing away with them, but Father Grogan leapt from the machine at the same moment, and gallantly seizing the animal’s head brought him to a stand. The Father was not seriously the worse for his narrow escape, but the church congregation were knelt waiting more than an hour for his delayed appearance, before service could begin. It is the same neat buggy that was made by Messrs Williams for Father Ryan, and it can be repaired.
It was during Fr Grogan’s time that the second Catholic Church in Patea was built, replacing the old Chapel. The new building was built along traditional Gothic styles, 50ft long by 30ft wide. It had a choir loft above the front entrance which looked down on the altar. A small Presbytery was also built next door, where the Nuns Convent was later built in 1969. The Church was named St Patrick’s, and was opened by Bishop Redwood on December 18, 1881. This was built at a cost of £1400 and the adjoining Presbytery cost £250. It was designed by Wellington architect, Thomas Turnbull and built by James O'Dea. Fr Grogan went to Napier Parish in 1884, where he died in 1912 at the age of 69. Fr A D Mulvihill replaced Fr Grogan, he stayed for 7 years before he was transferred to Australia..
All the priests that administered in Patea up until this time did not live here. For almost 40 years they were in charge of a huge catchment, often from New Plymouth to Whanganui. The records of Baptism’s, Marriages and Funerals during that time have been lost with the passing of time. Records in the possession of St Patricks Parish now, begin in 1891. The earliest Catholic Burial recorded in the Sexton’s Ledger in the Patea Cemetery is of a baby; Mary Gahan, who died at 2 weeks old on 13 of May 1876. She is one of the 8 graves on top of the hill. She was the only child of a Mary and James Gahan. Four month old David George Bourke is also on the hill, he’s the 2nd Catholic burial, he died at 4 months old on 1 January 1878. The first Catholic burial in the lower area of the cemetery is 56 year old Michael Foley on 5 Sept 1878, Fr Pertuis was the officiating priest that day. There would have Catholic burials before then, but a special area was not set aside until then.
The first permanent Priest that lived in Patea was Father Thomas McKenna in 1891.In 1892 Fr McKenna had two fine rooms added onto the Presbytery with a beautiful bay window added to the new Parlour. He also had the sandhills removed from behind the Church and a lawn laid. Fr McKenna was born in Kilkenny Ireland, and arrived in NZ soon after his brother Fr John McKenna in 1888 at the age of 24. After a few years in Masterton he went to Patea to set it up as an independent parish in 1891 When Pahiatua was established as a separate parish in 1894, Thomas returned as its first priest. John and Thomas McKenna were able administrators and outstanding pastoral priests who together laid the foundation of the Catholic church in Wairarapa. Both John and Thomas McKenna were famous throughout Wairarapa as enthusiastic sportsmen and able athletes. They represented Wairarapa at rugby, playing under their mother's maiden name; Wallace. Fr Thomas was made a Dean after his time in Patea. He is buried at Paihitua
During the time of Fr William McGrath, the Sisters of St Josephs arrived in Patea and the St Joseph Convent School was established on Suffolk St in 1904 with a roll of 72 children. The first Nuns were Sister’s Catherine, Angela, Margaret Mary, Elizabeth and Sister Peter. A house was built for them next to the School, it was demolished in 1970 when the new Nun’s residence was built.
Many students have passed through its doors since. Two students that have gone on to the ‘worlds stage’ are ‘Soprano’ Lynne Cantlon and Reginald Delargey who became Cardinal of the NZ Catholic Church in 1976. His father Archibald was Manager of the BNZ Bank in Patea in the 1920’s and his mother Kathleen sadly died at the age of 45 and is buried in the Patea Cemetery. The family moved away not long after, but her husband Archibald was buried beside her when he died 30 years later. Cardinal Delargey died in Auckland on 29 January 1979. After an impressive funeral, which was televised live, he was buried in the priests’ plot in Karori cemetery, Wellington.
Fundraising Bazaars and Tug-a-War competitions were all part of the activities to raise money for the new Catholic Presbytery under the guidance of Father Duffy. Kakaramea and Alton were the Tug-a-War teams to bet. In 1919 the new Presbytery was built on a new site on the Surrey St side of the Church (in 1983 it was sold to David and Linda Towers). It is not known what happened to the old Presbytery, it may have remained standing for a few more years. Sadly Father Duffy didn’t get to enjoy his new home for long, as he died at the end of 1920 at the age of 44. His OBITUARY in the Patea Mail on 27 November 1920 tells of the high regard he was held in Patea: “Very general regret will be felt at the news of the death at Patea of Father Duffy who as the parish priest for fourteen years had become very sincerely liked and respected in Patea and district. He succeeded another popular priest, the late Father McGrath. He was born in County Longford, Ireland, forty-four years ago, and was ordained to the priesthood in 1902, spending the first 'few years of his clerical ministry at Pahiatua and Carterton. He had been in indifferent health for several years, and a short time ago it was found that an operation was necessary. Despite all that medical skill and the ministration of kind friends could do at home and in the Patea Hospital, he gradually failed and passed quietly away early on Friday morning”. He is buried in the Patea Cemetery next to Fr McGrath.
Fr Daniel McLaughlin was a Curate (assistant Priest) for Fr Duffy during WWI. He was born in Whenuakura in 1891, the son of Hugh and Mary McLaughlin and baptized at St Patrick Church Patea. The family moved to a farm at Rawhitiroa a few years later. During his time as a priest in Patea Father McLaughlin’s brother Lance Corporal John Joseph McLaughlin was killed in action in France. Fr McLaughlin went on to become Parish Priest for Marton and then Stratford, where he died and is buried in 1935
The Hibernian Society was formed in Patea under the guidance of Fr Michael Broughton in September 1934. The first 11 members were initiated by the Provincial President; Bernard McCarthy (Lawyer) Hawera. It was a fellowship group and most Parish’s had a Hibernian Society, they would meet with other groups on a regular basis. Its purpose was to act as a Sick and Funeral Benefit, to a Life and Fire Insurance Soc, as well as a very successful Credit Union and a Permanent Building Society. Mary Boyle was Secretary/Treasurer from 1942 until she died in 2001.
Fr John Rohan was the longest serving Parish Priest – 36 years. He arrived in Patea in 1936, at the age of 36. Three years before WWII was declared and Patea was a boom town with a very strong Catholic congregation. A couple of years after he arrived my Great Aunt Suzie Dwyer started work as his Housekeeper. She was meant to stay only a few weeks until he found someone permanent, but almost 30 years later she was still there when Fr Rohan retired to Taupo in 1971. Sadly he died a year later at the age of 73. He was returned to his beloved parish of Patea and buried at the Patea Cemetery. Fr Rohan was a well-respected man; always seen at community events of all descriptions. Sunday afternoons were often spent playing euchre at the Crawford home at Whenuakura. He was a regular at Circus’s and sporting events at Patea. Boxing Day Athletics at the Domain he could be found holding the Finish-Line Ribbon with Gordon Scown. They would walk into the middle of the track after each race, still holding the ribbon, to discuss who the place-getters should be.
It was during Fr Rohan’s time in Patea that the present Church was built. The last couple to get married in the old wooden St Patrick’s Church were Johnny and Noeline Kerrisk on 16 February 1957. The church was then rolled to one side of the section and continued to be used for Sunday services and more weddings, funerals etc until the new one was finished. The old church was intended to be used as a Hall, but a huge storm in May 1958 caused major structural damage and it was demolished when the new Church was opened. The first couple to be married in the new Church were Hendrik and Rona Schrader on 7 Feb 1959
The statue of St Patrick that was in an alcove high up at the front of the old wooden Church was still sitting under the Pohutakawa’s between the Church and the Presbytery in the 1980’s. It had been set on a concrete plinth that some well-meaning parishioners had poured into a mould, then sat the statue in it. When they checked on it after having a cup of tea, the statue had sunken into the concrete and was set in it up to its knees. It was a slightly sad end for a statue that watched over the town for 77 years.
Vin Bloor won the tender to build the existing church and began the task in 1957. Vin was a WWII returned soldier and built among other things, the Matapu War Memorial Hall. He was to run into financial strife during the huge project of the new Catholic Church. He gave up building on a full-time basis at the completion of St Patrick’s Church and bought the Hurleyville Store and the small dairy farm attached to it, with his wife Mavis. But he did do an amazing job of the light and airy concrete constructed Church. It is approximately 490m² in size and the cost is thought to be £30,000. It was opened dept free, to the credit of Fr Rohan, who spent years canvasing the district for pledges from parishioners
On Sunday 21 December 1958, the newly built Church was officially opened to great fanfare. Pews which had been bought by various Catholic families were packed tight with the congregation in their Sunday best. Aunty Suzie had given the job of keeping the copper stoked and the water boiling in the washhouse behind the Presbytery, to her nephews, the Dwyer boys; Danny, Keiran, Kevin and Brian. A hot cup of tea for everyone was vital. There were also cigars were lined up for the Priests and Bishops on a table nearby….this temptation proved too much for these curious youngsters, and they each lit a cigar to pass the time keeping the water boiling on that hot summers day.
It’s been almost 170 years since Father Pezant first walked into Patea as the first Catholic Priest. The town has seen many changes, people have come and gone, leaving their mark in many different ways. The last resident Catholic Priest left in 2013. The Parish is now administered by visiting Priests and certain parishioners oversee and control funerals, baptisms etc when required. The circle of change has come a full circle…like so often happens in life and the stories in between are as always…fascinating.
The adjoining convent was opened by Bishop O N Sneddon in 1970. Built at an approximate cost of $36,000 by Arthur Brown Construction of Hawera.
There have been several sizable bequests left Patea and Waverley Church. The Micheal Keating estate in Kohi, which was left to the Waverley Church, The John Dwyer Estate that was left in 1938 by John and Anne Dwyer. It was a herd of cows and a lease agreement for the ???acre farm. The Church bought the farm in ?? It is now managed by David Werder and Keiran Dwyer. In the past it was managed by Jerry Hurley from Opaku and ?. Then Frank Parsons & ?. Then Dan Dwyer and Eric Werder.
On 18 November 1973, while making arrangements by telephone at the presbytery for the accommodation of a convalescent priest whom he had just visited, McKeefry died suddenly, a cigarette smouldering between his fingers. He was buried in Karori cemetery after a funeral attended by numerous civic and ecclesiastical dignitaries and amidst copious tributes from within and beyond his own church. He was succeeded by Reginald Delargey.
1852 Rev Jean Étienne Pezant (travelled between NP and Whanganui)
1863 Rev Maurice Tressalet
1865 Father John Baptiste Louis Rolland (Military Chaplin travelled between NP and Patea, born in Verdun. France 1834)
1875 Father Eugene Pertuis (arrived in NP in 1863 from France, travelled between NP and Whanganui) b.1830 d.1906
1879 Rev Ryan
1880-1884 Father Michael Grogan, 1843-1912went to Napier in 1884, 2nd Patea church built in his time
1884-1891 Rev A D Mulvihill, went to Australia
1891-1894 Dean Thomas McKenna (first Priest to be permanently stationed at Patea) b.18563 d.1923
1894-1895 Rev Patrick Joseph Power died 1927, buried in Hawera
1895-1899 Rev Golden
1899-1906 Father William McGrath died 1906 in Patea, buried Patea
1901-1902 Father W Johnson (curate)
1906-1920 Father Edward Duffy died 1920 in Patea, buried in Patea -
1916-1918 Father Daniel McLaughlin (curate) born & baptized (1891) at Patea
1923-1925 Father P Masterton (curate)
1920-1922 Father Thomas Cahill
1922-1927 Father Edward Phelan (went to Ireland for a year in 1927
1927-1928 Father Edward Lynch
1928-1930 Father Nicholas Moore (went to Masterton)
1929-1932 Father C Harnett
1930-1933 Father Richard Hegarty (went to Feilding)
1932-1934 Father John Joseph Garrahy
1934-1936 Father Michael Broughton (went to Feilding)
1936-1971 Father John Rohan died & buried at Patea, Suzie Dwyer was his housekeeper
1971-1975 Father James McNeill, went to Marton, his housekeeper was Peg.
1975-1981 Father John McLaughlin, came from the south island
1981-1989 Father John Dykes
1990-1997 Father P J Cumiskey
1997-2004 Father Steve Hancey (died 2017 in Whanganui)
2004-2009 Father Anthony Ford (based at St Joseph Hawera, died 2009)
2009-2013 Father Bill Casey (left April 2013 for NP,Died 6/6/2019 last resident Priest for Patea